The Oilers have been in this position before.
Maybe not on the brink of elimination, but down and forced to fight for their playoff lives.
Against the Vancouver Canucks, they found themselves down 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 to win the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals. Against the Stars, they went down 2-1 before bouncing back with three consecutive victories to win the series.
They have repeatedly demonstrated a grittiness throughout the playoffs that has defined their entire season, as forward Connor Brown discussed.
"We've put together winning streaks when we've had to this year. We have that belief when you can draw on past experience not too long ago. That's where the belief is, and that unshakable belief is growing."
Coach Kris Knoblauch attributes much of that to the leadership of stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
"They've had a lot to do with the success of this team and us being resilient. They're very driven, obviously driven to be successful individually, but also wanting the team to have success and playing the right way."
He continued, ""For superstars to dump the puck in and forecheck and backcheck and finish checks, they've been committed and bought in to doing that. And when your two star players play that system, the rest of the team has no choice but to tag along and do the little things that are required to be successful."
McDavid has eight goals and 34 assists in these playoffs and surpassed "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, for most career postseason assists. He has an opportunity to pass him in total scoring in a single postseason with six more points.
He has been everything the Oilers needed their superstar to be and is a major reason for the team's success. His and his team's refusal to quit has them two wins away from the Stanley Cup.
Whether they can stay alive, in front of a rabid fan base on their home ice, is the question. If their 8-1 shelling of the Panthers in Game 4 is any indication, they certainly can.
